String peg



April 30, i929. R. R. PAGE 0, 2

STRLNG PEG Filed March 19. 1924 V 3 l 4 %U z 15 j 4 J ray- INVENTOR flab an? R Page,

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3%,

UNITE STATES PATEFET OFFICE.

STEIN G Application filed stringed instruments.

One important feature or my device is that the necessary force amplification to tension and tune a string is der' ived by the use of only one direct rotative reduction through means of a driven crown gear and a driver pinion in mesh therewith.

Another important advantzgo through the above noted ar, rotativc direction of the string the same as the rotativc direction of the lrey or winding-stein, notwithstanding the Sltnpllclty and use of the two-gear reduction.

Another advantage or" my construction is that owing to the arrangement of the casing and the crown gear speed rcduci elements, the tension reaction of the tuned string upon the string-peg proper is prevented "from cramping the device.

Another novel feature relates to means wherebythe driving pinion is lrictionally adjustably held for prevcn. reverse movement oi the driven gear, or crown gear, due to strain of the tuned on the string peg.

Inthe drawings 1 section elevation of my device taken on the line l-1 Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is side elevation of Fig. i.

Fig. 3 is plan view of the casing, show-- ing the pinion gear.

Fig. l is side elevation oi": the string peg and crown gear.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the peg snowin the gear.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the casing cap.

Fig. 7 is side elevation oi the lrey pinion.

Fig. 8 is a plan of the boss or was Fig. 9 is a detail of the lock washer.

Fig. 10 is a detail of the locking screw.

Fig. 11 shows another form oi pinion and gear tooth.

My device comprises, preferably, in metal construction, a casing denoted by l, which is substantially cylindrical, and plOVlClGd Wit-h two'screw fastening lugs 3 and 4;, 3, whereby the complete device may be attached to a keyboard head, generally den-cted by 5, Fig. 2.

The casing 1, has a circular interior which is finished in a smooth manner so as to re ceive therein and re tatively support a driven gear element 6 of substantially cylindrical construction, said gear 6 having its lower march 19, serial Flo. 206,2?1.

. *i: cut so as to develop a secth S thereon, somewhat in ries or 'e the fee 'or: a so-called crown-cut gear. By arranging this gear in this preferred cyliudi al term, I provide a long side-hearing surface B which, coacting with the comparatively deep inside surfaces 9 of the casing interior l0, provides in conjunction with the stem bore 11 in the casing cap av rotative mounting or hearing, which under the tension reaction or leverage of the string Fig. 2 prevents cramping action of the above described parts and provides a longtaced easy bearing for smooth precise tuning rotation of all the coacting rotating parts.

To further the simplicity of the device and to iaciitatc rapid assembly of the do vice and effecting a saving in labor, I have provided a cap 12. in the form of an apertured disc, a; .ture 11 of which receives and rotatably supports the string-stem or peg 13, which is integrally and axially mounted upon the driven gear 6. The outer diameter oi the cap 12 is of such size as to permit it to be a force-lit into the upper partot the interior 10 of the casing 1, so t when the gear elements are assembled within said casing, they are enclosed therein f ally by capping the casing 1, about as show in Fig. 1.

The casing l is provided on its lower integral cover portion 14-, with an apertured bearing disk 15, and which rotatably supdriving or key pinports therein a s ommed ion 16 in operative driving relation with the driven gear 6., shown in Fig. 1. The drivpinion 16 is of smaller pitch diaui than the driven gear 6, and, as shown, meshes with said gear 6 within the pitch ion which, in cooperation with the pinem 17 d the linger key piece 18, sets up a variable opp-es. g friction to the string-te sion forces upon the driven gea 6 through is string peg 13. To this end the pinion s 17 a portion of its leng h is made cylindrical and for the remainder ot its length is squared, as at 23, Figs. 1 and 7. The finger piece 18 has a collar or head 24: and has a square recess or chamber adapted to receive the squared portion 23 ot' the pinion stem for moving the stem, this recess extending through the body of the finger key. The finger key 18 has a bore 26 which communicates with the recess 25 and is in alinement with the threaded bore 27 in the square end of the linger stem. The bore 26 receives the linger key screw 20, the threaded end of which engages in said bore 27. The washer 15 is located on the cylindrical portion of the pinion stem 17 and bears against the outer sine of the cover portion 14, and the split spring l-l is arranged around the cylindrical portion of the pinion stem between the washer 15 and the bead 24. It is thus seen that by inward movement of the screw 20 tension will be applied to the gear pinion 16 whereby it is frictionally held on the interior oil: the cover 14, and that this tension may be varied or adjusted by inward or outward movement of the screw 20, this tensioning oi" the gear pinion serving to prevent rotation thereot due to strain of the sring on the peg 13. It will also be seen that the amount of force required to turn the peg 13 for tun ing up the string is exactly the same as that required for letting down or loosening the string, and that this arrangement permits of steady turning of the peg 13 in either direction and provides for very perfect tuning of the string. The tension on the gear pinion 16 may be adjusted by the player or may be adjusted in manufacture and set.

In Fig. 11, I have disclosed a modified form of gearing. In this modification I have substituted a bevel pinion and gear, as a substitute for t to internal type shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but in every other respect the details of construction of the modified form are like the preferred construct-ion. In the modified form, it will be noted that the driven pinion retains the long cylindrical bearing face B, whereby to steady the string peg and to prevent cramping ot' the gears when under string tension.

Having thus described my invention, it should be understood that there may be modifications thereof andvariations tl erein without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sound instrument, a support having an extended smooth friction face; a gear thereon provided with a string stem and an extended smooth friction surface engaging said face; a pinion meshing with said gear and provided with a projecting driving stem; and a finger key on said driving stem:

2. In combination, in a sound instrument, a casing having a smooth inner cylindrical face; a disk like member provided with a string stem and a smooth cylindrical peripheral surface snugly fitting in the cas ing and frictionally engaging said taco.

In a sound instrument, a support having an extender tare; a member provided with a stem and an extended 'lace several times the diameter oi? the stem and frictionally engaging said taco; and a finger key operatively connected to said member.

4. In a sound mrument, a casing having an inner cylindrical face; a gear provided with a stem and cylindrical. peripheral surface several es the diameter of the stem snugly fitting in the casing and frictionally engaging said face; a pinion meshing with said gear and provided with a driving projecting stem; and a. finger key on said driving stem. 7

5. In a sound. instrument, a support having a cylindrical face; a member provided with a stem and a cylindrical surface several times the diameter of the stem snugly fitting against and lrictionallv cugaging said race; and a finger key operatively connected with said memlair.

6. In a sound instrument, a casing having a cylindrical wall; a gear therein provvided with a stem and a bearing surl'acc engaging said wall; a cap firmly secured in said casing and having a bearing aperture receiving said stem; a pinion meshing with said gear and provided with a projecting driving stem; and a finger key on said driving stem.

7. In a sound instrument, a substantiallv cylindrical casing; an exteriorlv cylindrical interiorly toothed gear received in said casing with a friction fit and provided with a projecting stem adapted to secure a sound mg string; a casing cap tightly fitting in said casing and having a stem bore recciving the stem, said cap and the casing cooperating to prevent binding by action 31? the string of the stem; a pinion meshingwith saidgear and provided with a projecting driving stem; and a finger key on said driving stem.

8 In a sound instrument, a substantially cylindrical casing having an outer wall portion; an e-Xteriorly cylindrical interiorly toothed gear received in said casing with a friction fit and provided with a projecting stem; a bearing disk on the bottom surface of said portion; a pinion meshing with said gear and provided with a driving stem projecting through said disk; and a finger key on said driving stem.

ing a. cylindrical wall; a crown gear havin a friction fit with the wall and provided with a stem; a pinion within the casing and meshmg with said gear and provided with a pro- 9. In a sound instrument, a casing havectmg driving stem; and a finger key on said driving stem.

10. In asound instrument a cylindrical casing having an outer wall portion; an extcriorly substantially cylindrical deep crown-cut driven gear rotatively eonitorniably received in said casing with a snug friction fit against the cylindrical wall oil the casing and provided with a projecting string stem, the teeth of said gear hein dirooted in a direction opposite to that or the stem, the deep exterior face of the and casing co-operating to prevent binding by action of the string of the stem; and a pinion meshing with said gear and provided. with a driving stem projecting through said Wall portion.

11. In a sound instrument, a casing; a gear snugly received therein provided with a stem; a pinion meshing with said gear and disposed within the boundaries of the ear and provided with a projecti' dr stem; and a'finger key on said driving eni.

12. In a sound instrument, a casing having a cover portion having an eccentric opening; a string stem projecting from the casing; a driving stem projecting through said opening and connected to the string stem the latter having one terminal thereof snugly engaging the casing; bearing disk mounted on said cover portion and provided with a bearing aperture registering with said eecentrio opening; a driving stein connected with said string pin and provided with an intermediate cylindrical portion projecting through said bearing aperture having a squared outer end provided with a threaded axial bore; a finger key fitted on said outer end and having a recess alined with said threaded bore; a split ring around said driving pin between the key and said dis and a screw adjustably received in said thrcaoed bore whereby said spring may be teosioned.

13. In a sound instrument, a key board head having a string stem hole th rein tree of countersinks, a substantially cylindrical casing secured to said head exterior to the back face thereof; and having Slllji 1 tially closed outer cover wall poi ion; a having a frictional fit with said casing provided with a stem projecting through said hole; an adjustable pinion meshing with said gear and provided with a driving stem projecting through said wall portion; and a finger key on said driving stem.

14-. In a sound instrument, a hey board head having a string stem hole therein; a substantially cylindrical casing disposed axially vertically on the back of said head 1nd having asuhstantially closed outer c ver wall portion and an outwardly later ally projecting flange at the inner edge engaging flat against the main back face of ad and formed with apertured prog lugs; screws passing through said and into the head; a crown gear adapted o frictionally fit with said casing provided with a stem projecti through said hole; a pinion meshing with said gear and provided with a driving stem projecting through said wall cover; and a. finger key on said driving stem. 4 i

15. A. peg for a. sounding instrument con prising a casing, a crown gear trictionally disposed therein and being provided with an integral string stern, and an adjustable pinion arranged. within the crown gear and finger key eperativcly associated with the pinion.

16. peg for a sounding instrument comprising a casing with oppositely disposed pei rated cars adapted to be suitably secured to the instinment a crown gear snugly but rotativcly disposed with the interior walls of the casing and an adjustable pinion within the crown gear and having key means extending therefrom and projecting thru the bottom wall of the casing.

17. it peg for a sounding instrument, a casing, crown gear having an integral fi ing stem, apinion meshing with the crown Bar and within the latter and being proced with a driving stem ott set from the tring stem.

18, it peg embodyin crown gear, with a a pinion within the gear having in stem out or" alignment with the string stem.

nod at New York in the county of State of New York March ROBERT R. PAGE.

g h aving a 

